Self-employment Assistance Decree (Bbz).

For whom.

The BBZ scheme is designed to support self-employed people who have temporarily run into, or are at risk of running into, financial difficulties and for people receiving Social assistance benefit benefit or unemployment benefit who intend to start their own business. Under certain Requirements , both start-up and established entrepreneurs can apply for this scheme. The BBZ also has options for self-employed people who have to terminate their business because the business is no longer viable.

Established entrepreneurs

An established entrepreneur may experience temporary financial difficulties due to various reasons. The BBZ has a number of options for providing assistance to the established entrepreneur:

  • Providing an interest-bearing loan to be repaid over ten years.
  • Guarantee for a loan from a bank. In this case, the municipality guarantees a loan made by the entrepreneur's bank.
  • A periodic benefit to supplement one's own income for a period of up to 1 year.
  • In addition, the self-employed, who may have sufficient income to get by, but lack reserve capacity for necessary investments, may be eligible for one-time working capital.

Starting entrepreneurs

The BBZ also offers opportunities to people who want to start a business from a benefit situation or who are entitled to WW or WWB benefit, with the ultimate goal of being able to support themselves. With WW benefit or WWB benefit, the income of the partner is also taken into account. The total income excluding WW may not exceed the social assistance level. The possibilities are:

  • During the preparation period, the entrepreneur can apply for an interest-free credit. This credit is converted into an interest-bearing credit when the business is started.
  • In the start-up period, the start-up entrepreneur can apply for interest-bearing credit or a loan guarantee from the bank.
  • Periodic benefit during the start-up phase of the business (maximum for 36 months).

Requirements

To qualify for the opportunities offered by the BBZ, the (start-up) entrepreneur must meet a number of basic requirements:

  • The entrepreneur is between the ages of 18 and 65.
  • Possess Dutch nationality or a valid residence permit.
  • The business is basically viable (after assistance) and meets the legal requirements of lawful establishment.
  • The company is based in the Netherlands, where less than 50% of sales may be generated abroad.
  • The applicant must meet the hour criterion that also applies to self-employment deductions (this is a minimum of 1,225 hours per year).
  • There must be no other financing options, for example, financing options from a bank.
  • A combination of financing options is also possible, e.g. the bank half and through the BBZ half. The guarantee provided by the BBZ can ensure that the entrepreneur's bank does provide (part of) the loan.

Request

Applying for assistance or credit is done through the Social Entrepreneur's Office Online (SOLO)

Your report automatically arrives at the municipality. An employee of the municipality will then contact you.

Learn more

If you have any questions, please contact the Municipality of Kerkrade during office hours, tel. 14 045. Or send an e-mail: gemeentehuis@kerkrade.nl

More information on the Self-employment Assistance Decree (Bbz) can be found on the Entrepreneurs' Square website